This past holiday weekend saw a high volume of traffic travelling across the border into Chetumal, Quintana Roo.

According to statistics from Immigration sources, over the long weekend the northern border saw 13,232 departures, of which 12,607 were Belizeans heading to tourist locations like Mahahual, Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

Now, if you and your family were among the thousands of Belizeans flocking to Chetumal, you were undoubtedly among those frustrated by the very long lines that formed at the border area. The complaints on social media and to the Despierta Belice morning show were incessant. Belizeans claim that the Immigration Department does not have the adequate number of personnel available to assist in the efficient processing of travellers.

Economically, if every Belizean who travelled to the Mexican side spent $100 on medical service, shopping, hotels or food, we’re looking at an economic impact of $1.2 million in foreign exchange into the Mexico’s southern economy in just one weekend.